For
a long time she refused but shortly before her death, on February 23,
at 98, the pensioner, of Stubbins, in Ramsbottom, Greater Manchester,
finally agreed to her granddaughter's request.

The
26-year-old, from Bury, said: 'She must have made hundreds of dolls and
thousands of other items. She never did it for any kind of
self-glorification.

'She
wanted to let the children and their families know that there was
somebody out there who cared, and hopefully to put a smile on their
faces even for a moment.'

A former seamstress, Mrs Westwell also
knitted items for Ramsbottom Library and St Philip's Church, Chadderton,
and taught sewing in primary schools.

She worked at Porrits in Stubbins Vale Mill and was married to Samuel Westwell, a textiles worker, until his death in 1975.

'She made dolls for myself and all of her other grandchildren,’ Miss Westwell said.

'She even made a bride and groom for me for my wedding, which she won't be able to see.

'Even when she was older she kept at it and always wanted to help the sick children. She didn't want anything to be about her, just about the children.'

The truth comes out: Her grandson Joe, 18, and granddaughter Vicky, 26, who repeatedly asked the pensioner to go public amid intense speculation surrounding her identity. Now they are finally telling her story